Electricity Generation: Diesel Fuel
(asked on 25th April 2018) - View Source
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much diesel electricity generating capacity is available on standby at times of peak demand; and if he will make a statement.
The vast bulk of GB peak electricity needs are now secured through the Capacity Market. The amount of diesel that wins capacity agreements in each auction varies depending on the price bid and National Grid has not broken the capacity down to identify only diesel for the current delivery year. However, around 1.45% (789 MW) of the capacity agreements held for 2017/18 are in the Open Cycle Gas Turbine & Reciprocating Engine (Diesel) category, which would include diesel generators.
In addition, National Grid maintain balancing reserves on standby, including generating capacity in the form of the Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR), and Fast Reserve. These are secured through tender rounds which run three times a year for STOR and monthly for the Fast Reserve. Amounts to be procured varying according to need and National Grid do not routinely maintain a breakdown by fuel type for successful tenders. However, a fuel type analysis of STOR* was published for the period 27/10/14-2/2/15 which showed that diesel amounted to 743MW, or 22%, of the STOR procured in that season.